A ‘proper’ powerboat
Peter Poland tests the second-hand Swedish production powerboat that just looks ‘right’ to so many ex-sailors
Giving up sail for power? The Nimbus 320C is a popular option
Afew years back, I took a party out to watch the America’s Cup anniversary jubilee fleet parading in the Solent. Our spectator craft was a nippy, low-wash Hunter Landau 20 motor boat. One of my guests had briefly owned an elderly 12m yacht and he was keen to see her sailing again. Beautifully restored by her new German owners, she was a sight for sore eyes. As were all the other 12s out on the water that day. It was a memorable and magical experience.
But this glimpse back at sailing history was marred by one unpleasant modern phenomenon. Large numbers of gin palaces were careering around at high speed, ploughing up the Solent into a rutted mess, making a lot of noise and generally blocking our view.
“Oh dear”, muttered my ex 12m-owning friend. “Why do all those noisy motorboats have to go flat out all the time; and why do they all look like trainers?”
A bit harsh perhaps, but he was a lover of classic looking boats. He got me thinking... and I realised he had a good point. They did indeed look a bit like trainers, with their sloping, shiny white superstructures and assertive, over-styled windows.
“I could never be seen in something that looks like that,” my friend added. “I wonder what sort of motorboats ex sailors buy when they stop sailing?”
A few years later, I got an answer to his question. Another old friend told me he had decided to buy a motorboat after a lifetime of sailing. He had sailed countless races in such boats as Sigmas, Hustlers and a wild mini-tonner. He was a yacht surveyor by profession, so he knew what he was talking about when it came to structures, performance and quality of build.
“What sort of motor boat are you going to buy then?” I asked. “There’s only one answer as far as I’m concerned,” he replied. “I want something that is well made, is seaworthy, cruises along at around 20 knots and looks like a proper boat. And of course I don’t want to feel embarrassed when I roll up at the Yacht Club in it. So it has to be a Nimbus.”
And, sure enough, he promptly went out and bought one. It was a second-hand Nimbus 280 Coupé, which has been one of the most successful motor boats ever built. The later 280 Familia version (with an aft cabin) was then introduced in 2004, adding further impetus to the prodigious sales record of this hugely successful, top-selling model.
Shortly after that, one of my Hunter customers also decided to forsake sail for power. “Which boat are you thinking about buying?” I asked, already half guessing what his answer would be. “A Nimbus,” he said. “My wife and I feel that we can live with the way it looks after all these years spent cruising in sailing boats. And we really like the way it is finished – a bit like a yacht really.”
Founded by Volvo
The Nimbus story started back in the 1960s, when Volvo Penta was looking for a new way to market its marine engines. A suitable leisure boat was needed and the then MD of Volvo Penta, Harald Wiklund, asked design engineer Pelle Petterson to come up with the goods. Petterson duly named his new design ‘Nimbus’ and the first test runs were made on Lake Vänern in September 1969. A year later, the Nimbus 26 was voted Boat of the Year; then on the eighth anniversary of the launch of the 26, brothers Hans and Lars Wiklund started the company known as Nimbus Boats.
Nimbus went on to become one of the most successful boat producing companies in Europe. And even though boat building businesses in general have often been beset by violent economic ups and downs, Nimbus Boats in its current form is still a Scandinavian powerhouse, taking on the UK, French, German and Italian motor boat builders at the quality end of the market. The strap line on the current Nimbus website says “Feel the difference. Nimbus boats are built in Sweden and designed to meet the requirements of the conscious yachtsman who appreciates proper functionality, comfort and safety. Properties we consider essential whether you go for a quick drive, a social weekend or a long international cruise.” Which sounds fair comment to me.
In the UK, Nimbus boats (and the increasingly popular specialist high performance Axopar range) are still distributed by Offshore Powerboats in Lymington. This company was founded in 1981 by Christopher Harridge and has been importing Nimbus motor boats for many years. As a result it has extensive knowledge and experience of the brand – which will be invaluable to anyone buying a Nimbus; be it new or second-hand.
The Offshore Powerboats team helps ensure that new boat commissioning and after sales servicing run smoothly. This may help explain why I was told that repeat business from satisfied customers has represented such a sizable chunk of the company’s annual turnover.
The Nimbus I went to test was a 320 Coupé; a model that was rapidly catching up the 280 as a world-wide top seller. I was told that 628 had been built, with production running at 85 units a year.
My guide for the day was power boat school owner and yacht deliverer Michael Morgan; so I was in good hands.
My first impressions were favourable as I approached the row of Nimbus cruisers of varying sizes (current 2021 models range from 9.87m to 13.33m) on the Offshore Power Boats demonstration berths. These struck me as elegant looking, purposeful, sea going motor yachts. There’s nothing flash about them; they are subtly styled and very pleasing on the eye.
As I boarded the 320 Coupé via her teak decked stern platform and crossed the cockpit towards the saloon door, the extensive but conservatively styled wrap-around windows looked robust. And they flooded the saloon with light. All-round visibility from inside the saloon is also excellent. The cockpit itself can almost double as an extra cabin, thanks to a well-tailored canopy (which was easily and quickly removed) and it boasts comfortable seating across the back and along the port side.
There are plenty of lockers under the cockpit seats and a cavernous stowage area lurks under the twin opening hatches on the cockpit sole. This area also gives useful access to the seacocks and the rear of the engine(s). I also noted the long grab rails situated above the saloon windows, ensuring safe access to the foredeck.
The saloon itself has comfortable U-shaped seating to port (that can also convert into a double berth by
‘There’s nothing flash about Nimbus – they are subtly styled and pleasing on the eye’
dropping the saloon table) and an eminently usable linear galley to starboard. What’s really nice, though, is the light and airy ambience and the fact that – whether lounging around the table or cooking at the galley – you have a panoramic view of the world outside; while large twin overhead opening hatches throw even more light on the proceedings (and extra ventilation in hot weather).
What’s more, the front end of the settee area can ‘flip over’ and turn into a forward facing double seat with backrest. This means that, when under way, two crew members can sit beside (and socialise with) the helmsman, while he or she is ensconced in the well upholstered bucket seat to starboard.
It’s all been very carefully thought through to make sure that the crew is as comfortable when under way as when in harbour. Which reinforces the feeling that this Nimbus is designed by people who understand what’s what when it comes to going to sea in a motor cruiser.
The forward part of the accommodation is accessed by a couple of steps down. This comprises an owners’ double cabin, guest double cabin (to port) and heads compartment (to starboard).
As elsewhere in the boat, the blue upholstery, rich woodwork and light coloured headlining panels combine to produce a relaxing, conservative and tasteful ambience. Put simply, it’s a nice place to be. Nothing flashy – just a very well-finished and attractively planned accommodation layout.
It’s easy to see why owners making the big move from sail to power find Nimbus motor boats so appealing.
‘What’s really nice is the light and airy ambience and the panoramic views’
Performance at sea
Once clear of the marina, the 320 Coupé trundled out of the harbour at a sedate and peaceful 8 knots (at 2,200 rpm). This example was fitted with twin Yanmar 125s, driving through conventional shafts. But I was told that most customers opt for the single Volvo D4 225hp option. Which is in itself interesting. If a single engine is good enough for almost every professional fisherman who puts to sea (in all weathers), why not for the leisure sailor? Perhaps it is psychological: “If one breaks down, you’ve always got a back-up.” But maybe Nimbus owners are more pragmatic and prefer to economise with the single-engine option.
Having reached the open Solent, Mike opened her up. At 2,500 rpm she made 10 knots. Apply a little trim tab and push her up to 3,000rpm and an effortless 17.4 knots appeared on the GPS and the view forward remained good thanks to the level trim. At 3,500rpm she cruised at 22.5 knots; full throttle (3,800 rpm) gave 25.4 knots.
Even when she was flat out, we could happily converse at normal volume. Most owners would probably cruise at around 19 to 20 knots when on passage. After all, the aim of voyaging under power is to do so in comfort and at reasonable speed. It also saves a lot on fuel. Besides, those who insist on charging around at 30 knots (especially in crowded areas such as the Solent) border on the antisocial.
When I took over the helm, I was impressed by the docile way in which the Nimbus handled. The power steering gave just enough ‘feel’ and the boat tracked well, even when barrelling along in and across the wake of another Nimbus that also came out for a spin. She also turned precisely and easily. In fact, if there is one word that sums up steering and controlling the 320 Coupé, it is ‘easy’. Everything about this boat, whether under way or in harbour, felt reassuring and just “right”. It’s easy to see why she has sold in such large numbers.
What’s the secret?
If you insist on 30 knots, the 320 won’t do the job for you. But if you want a motor boat that will get you comfortably from A to B at a more restful cruising speed then she fits the bill admirably. And now with higher tax rates on marine diesel used for propulsion, 20 knots is an economical cruising speed. Add in elegant lines and Scandinavian quality and you have an attractive package that should give pleasure for a long time to come.
At the time of writing, a number of 320 Coupés were listed on Yachtmarket.com with VAT inclusive asking prices ranging from £82,000 for 2002 models to around £110,000 for 2007 models. If your budget can extend to a new boat, Paige Hayward of Offshore Powerboats tells me that the latest Nimbus 305 and 365 Coupé models are currently the top sellers.